Dim display Is a dim display a common problem with this laptop? Has anyone replaced a display and if so what is the difficulty level. My 7 year old is always playing internet games on my computer which worries me so I had her bring her own laptop over which is this old dilapidated armada. Everything functions fine except a somewhat dim display which would drive me nuts. Doesn't seem to bother her but at least she is not playing spongebob games on MY computer anymore!

I think it is most probably a hardware issue but getting it fixed would cost more than the think is worth. thanks, Myra I think it is most probably a hardware issue but getting it fixed would cost more than the think is worth. thanks, Myra

Check power settings as it may be in battery saving mode, for games it should be set to maximum performance. There will be settings for brightness and contrast possibly using the function key and cursor arrows. It may help to change the screen, which is moderately difficult if you have a disassembly diagram, but it is worth trying to change the inverter first.

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It sounds like there is a loose connection. I would disassemble it and check the cable that runs through the hinge. Make sure it isn't getting pinched or being pulled when the screen is opened beyond 50%.

If the laptop is under a year old it could still be under warranty and if so I would get it repaired under warranty.
OTHERWISE
You could have a faulty inverter or a CCFL lamp, To determine if you have a LCD screen, inverter or video card problem, read this and follow these instructions. Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp. Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight. Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case. The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills. Check out www.lcdparts.netfor parts, repair service and DIY info.

The backlight CCFL lamp provides the lighting for the LCD screen. If you have already adjusted the brightness to the max. setting and it is still dim, it means the CCFL lamp is is nearly worn out.
To determine if you have a LCD screen or video card problem, read this and follow the instructions.
Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom: Screen flashs on red/pink and off. Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal. Picture flickering with dim display or appear black. Picture flickering on and off. All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp.
Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power the monitor up first then the laptop, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight.
Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.
The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.
Check out www.lcdparts.net for parts, repair service and DIY info.

You could have a defective screen - a defective inverter or a CCFL lamp.To determine if you have a LCD screen or video card problem, read this and follow the instructions.

Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom:

Screen flashs on red/pink and off.

Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal.

Picture flickering with dim display.

Picture flickering on and off.

All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp

Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power it up, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight.

Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.Check out www.lcdparts.net for parts, repair service and DIY info.

You could have a defective screen - a defective inverter or a CCFL lamp.To determine if you have a LCD screen or video card problem, read this and follow the instructions.

Defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom:

Screen flashs on red/pink and off.

Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal.

Picture flickering with dim display.

Picture flickering on and off.

All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp

Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power it up, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight.

Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.Check out www.lcdparts.net for parts, repair service and DIY info.

You most likely have a defective CCFL backlight, it may have the following symptom:

Screen flashs on red/pink and off.

Picture stays on in red and slowly be come normal.

Picture flickering with dim display.

Picture flickering on and off.

All these symptoms indicate that the LCD backlight lamp (CCFL Lamp) has reached the end of the life and all you need to do is replacing the CCFL lamp

Connect an external monitor to your laptop and power it up, if you see the normal Windows images then the video card and laptop is OK and the problem is definitely the backlight.

Dim image and/or dark display on the laptop's LCD screen indicates a faulty LCD backlight and it could be the inverter that supplies high voltage to the CCFL lamp or it is the CCLF lamp is nearly burnt out or burnt out, most likely this is the case.The inverter can be replaced easily but the CCLF lamp is more time consuming and requires soldering skills.Check out www.lcdparts.net for parts, repair service and DIY info.

You might want to do a quick check on ebay and see if anyone has something for sale there that you could use. Also, you might want to check to make sure that the LCD cables are firmly seated in their connectors. Reseating them may sometimes help with a problem like this. Also, the lid switch may be loose, broken or going bad. The next time you loose the display, you might try manually operating that switch, just to see what happens.Ron-